Marion Collins was the owner of Oildale Tire and a successful stock car racer before opening Mesa Marin Raceway in 1977. Considered the number one short track in the west, it became a NASCAR sanctioned track in 1995 and was best known for starting the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. When the city refused to renew the track's conditional use permit, Collins sold the property to a developer. He was instrumental in purchasing the Spears Soutwest Tour series and getting the new Kern County Raceway underway and. He is in the West Coast Stock Car / Motorsports Hall of Fame.